Winter weather chilling Nebraska through the weekend

A winter storm system is moving down from Canada, into most of Nebraska today.

The National Weather Service is forecasting freezing precipitation to usher in the storm system for most of the state.

Michael Power, lead forecaster in the North Platte office, says we will all experience the strong, cold wind out of the north.

“Winds are going to pick up to about 15-20 miles per hour, gusting to around 30,” Power tells Nebraska Radio Network. “We can see periods of blowing and drifting snow. The heavier snow amounts – 4-6 inches – are going to be basically confined up to Sheridan and Cherry counties.”

Power says the air temperature Saturday morning will be around 17 degrees below zero in an area from roughly Valentine to Alliance.

The wind chill will be below zero through Sunday midday.

“We’re going to be seeing wind chills around 20 below over the Sandhills and 10 to 20 below in southwest Nebraska, basically south of Interstate 80,” Power says. “Saturday, as the snow stops and the sky clears, we’re going to be seeing wind chills up north around 30 below zero.”

The forecast calls for more seasonal temperatures by Wednesday with some southern Nebraska counties seeing temperatures in the 40s.